DRAFT - PM2.5 - Woodheater smoke surveys

The vector points in this map layer are data collected from Travel BLANkET, EPA Tasmania, Air Section, Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment for the years presented. Included in the layer are: concentrations of PM2.5 in µg-3 as measured by a TSI DustTrak™ DRX Aerosol Monitor 8533; date and local time (AEST) as measured by a GPS unit; external ambient air temperature in °C (from 2012 onwards) as measured by a thermistor; locality derived from a localities layer; latitude and longitude as measured by the on-board GPS unit in WGS84; eastings and northings in GDA94 55G, converted from WGS84 data. Travel BLANkET is a car–based smoke–measurement instrument that is used to map the spatial distribution of smoke in Tasmanian towns and communities. It has mainly been used for winter–time domestic woodsmoke surveys. The rationale for using PM2.5 as a measure of smoke can be viewed at http://epa.tas.gov.au/Documents/BTR_31_overview_OA_compressed_size.pdf. Travel BLANkET consists of a TSI DustTrak™ DRX Aerosol Monitor 8533 in a box with a heated inlet, battery, and local router. Ambient air is sampled via a 1 m teflon tube that extends outside the car. A USB GPS unit allows the measurements to be geo–located. A thermistor is also mounted on the outside of the car, giving ambient temperature. A laptop is used to read these instruments and log data. One data point is collected each 5 seconds on a survey. Surveys were undertaken in and around a selection of Tasmanian towns during the winter months between 2011 and 2017. Most surveys were undertaken on cold, calm nights between 18:00 and 03:00. Due to smoke movement from its source, a data point on the map does not necessarily represent the source of the smoke.

More detail concerning the Travel BLANkET can be viewed  and downloaded at http://epa.tas.gov.au/Documents/BTR_31_overview_OA_compressed_size.pdf